Imaging of long head biceps tendon : a multimodality pictorial essay

The aim of this article is to provide an imaging review of normal anatomy, most common anatomical variants and pathologies of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHB) encountered during the daily practice. (www.actabiomedica.it)

The Italian Consensus Conference on FAI Syndrome in Athletes (Cotignola Agreement)

Background. Femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) is an important topic in literature because of its strong relationship with sport populations. Methods. Sixty-five experts participated in "this Consensus Conference (CC)". They discussed, voted and approved a consensus document on the FAI syndrome in athletes. Results. The CC experts approved document provided suggestions concerning: 1) Epidemiology of FAI; 2) Clinical evaluation; 3) Radiological evaluation; 4) Conserva-tive treatment; 5) Surgical criteria; 6) Surgical techniques; 7) Post-surgical rehabilita-tion; 8) Outcome evaluation; 9) FAI-associated clinical frameworks. Conclusions. The CC offers a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treat-ment of FAI syndrome in athletes taking into account all the different steps needed to approach this pathology in sport populations

Italian consensus conference on guidelines for conservative treatment on lower limb muscle injuries in athlete.

Provide the state of the art concerning (1) biology and aetiology, (2) classification, (3) clinical assessment and (4) conservative treatment of lower limb muscle injuries (MI) in athletes. Seventy international experts with different medical backgrounds participated in the consensus conference. They discussed and approved a consensus composed of four sections which are presented in these documents. This paper represents a synthesis of the consensus conference, the following four sections are discussed: (i) The biology and aetiology of MIs. A definition of MI was formulated and some key points concerning physiology and pathogenesis of MIs were discussed. (ii) The MI classification. A classification of MIs was proposed. (iii) The MI clinical assessment, in which were discussed anamnesis, inspection and clinical examination and are provided the relative guidelines. (iv) The MI conservative treatment, in which are provided the guidelines for conservative treatment based on the severity of the lesion. Furthermore, instrumental therapy and pharmacological treatment were discussed. Knowledge of the aetiology and biology of MIs is an essential prerequisite in order to plan and conduct a rehabilitation plan. Another important aspect is the use of a rational MI classification on prognostic values. We propose a classification based on radiological investigations performed by ultrasonography and MRI strongly linked to prognostic factors. Furthermore, the consensus conference results will able to provide fundamental guidelines for diagnostic and rehabilitation practice, also considering instrumental therapy and pharmacological treatment of MI. Expert opinion, level IV

Italian consensus conference on guidelines for conservative treatment on lower limb muscle injuries in athlete

Provide the state of the art concerning (1) biology and aetiology, (2) classification, (3) clinical assessment and (4) conservative treatment of lower limb muscle injuries (MI) in athletes. Seventy international experts with different medical backgrounds participated in the consensus conference. They discussed and approved a consensus composed of four sections which are presented in these documents. This paper represents a synthesis of the consensus conference, the following four sections are discussed: (i) The biology and aetiology of MIs. A definition of MI was formulated and some key points concerning physiology and pathogenesis of MIs were discussed. (ii) The MI classification. A classification of MIs was proposed. (iii) The MI clinical assessment, in which were discussed anamnesis, inspection and clinical examination and are provided the relative guidelines. (iv) The MI conservative treatment, in which are provided the guidelines for conservative treatment based on the severity of the lesion. Furthermore, instrumental therapy and pharmacological treatment were discussed. Knowledge of the aetiology and biology of MIs is an essential prerequisite in order to plan and conduct a rehabilitation plan. Another important aspect is the use of a rational MI classification on prognostic values. We propose a classification based on radiological investigations performed by ultrasonography and MRI strongly linked to prognostic factors. Furthermore, the consensus conference results will able to provide fundamental guidelines for diagnostic and rehabilitation practice, also considering instrumental therapy and pharmacological treatment of MI. Expert opinion, level IV

Ultrasound diagnosis and Doppler monitoring of a pelvic spleen in pregnancy

We describe a patient with a pelvic spleen diagnosed during pregnancy and monitored through gestation which we believe to be the first reported case. A 40-year-old woman was referred at 8 weeks of gestation because of a chronic intense pain in the left iliac cavity which had spread to her lower back. Clinical examination revealed a poorly defined pelvic mass. Pelvic ultrasound demonstrated a gestational sac containing a viable embryo whose size was consistent with the period of amenorrhea. While the splenic area in the left hypocondrium was found to be empty, a homogeneous and elongate mass measuring 152 ´ 123 mm with a maximum thickness of 53.4 mm was observed in the left iliac cavity above the uterus. This mass, the ectopic spleen, was monitored by Doppler velocimetry at monthly intervals until delivery and no variation throughout gestation was observed; therefore, despite the occasional occurrence of heavy pain, it was possible to exclude circulatory complications such as thrombosis or torsion. Doppler ultrasound proved to be a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of this rare anatomical variation

Perineal ultrasound in the study of urethral mobility: proposal of a normal physiological range

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine, using perineal ultrasound, the physiological range for urethral mobility in normal women. Sixty healthy women were enrolled. The ultrasound parameters obtained with a perineal “static” and “dynamic” evaluation method were: pubic–urethral distance and inclination angle of the urethral axis. We propose a physiological range of pubic–urethral distance under stress in young women between 10 and 15 mm, the inclination angle of the urethral axis is between 60 and 100°. In peri–post-menopause women we establish a non-rigid range of mobility in relation to age and parity: between 15 and 18 mm for the pubis–urethra distance and 80° and 120° for the angle of the urethral axis. Defining a range of normality for urethral mobility through ultrasound is useful for further studying therapeutic choices and help to identify the surgical correction and post-operative follow-u